EghtesadOnline: Conflict and insecurity remain the key barriers to development progress in the Middle East and North Africa. In Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen, about half the population—around 40 million people—require humanitarian assistance. Across the region, countries depend heavily on food imports. As their populations urbanize and grow, the need for imports will increase.

EghtesadOnline: A regional framework for action on coping with water scarcity has been prepared and will be piloted in South Khorasan Province, deputy governor of the northeastern province said.

EghtesadOnline: President Hassan Rouhani has sounded the alarm on the worsening water crisis saying his administration invested $11.5 billion in the water sector after he took office in 2013.